At what temperature do proteins breakdown vs. what temperature DNA breaks down?

Hi Torie Simmons, welcome back.


Typically beyond body temperature, 41°C (105.8°F). However, some proteins are more resilient than others.


By breakdown you mean the strands split apart? Assuming that's what you meant, DNA strands are held together by hydrogen bonds. While hydrogen bonds are relatively weak in comparison to other intermolecular  forces, they are strong when there's a great number of them holding a molecule together, as in DNA. DNA requires at least 95°C (~200°F) for the strands to break apart. At this temperature the hydrogen bonds between the A-T and G-C base pairs unzip the double-stranded DNA.


I'm assuming it has to do with the temperature difference. For example, proteins denature at 41°C while DNA remains in tact until 95°C.